77 replies to this topic

[dermy]

Holy! Looks like they'll be needing a new nest this season!

[antmaniac]

The summer season is over in Australia now though. I have already slow down their feeding, but they still grow really fast. At least 20 major workers and I have to get rid of the escaping workers every time I open the outworld to feed them. I plan to complete the expansion formicarium this Easter break and hopefully the cooler weather make the nest expansion easier.

[antmaniac]

7/5/2016

Some major workers are larger than other major workers. There are 3 wingless queens in the colony, 2 of them are virgin queens.

 

This colony is outside now and some moss has grown in the formicarium. The colony has been relocated outside as there are mites in the rubbish dump. A overview of the dump is shown, along with a major worker doing the garbage removing job.

Edited by antmaniac, May 6 2016 - 6:46 PM.

[LC3]

I really like the colouring and shape of the major's heads. 

 

Hope the colony continues to thrive outside.

[antmaniac]

Thanks. The major worker is designed to crush seeds, along with muscle power. Now the older major workers are stationed outside  doing defense jobs and around rubbish dumps moving big chunks around.

[antmaniac]

19/11/2016

A overview of the colony, which has been outside for a while now. I just started feeding them insects after the weather warmed up. They have lots alate brood this season and eats anything I gave them, even the cooked rice.

 

When I put the insects in the outworld, a scout ant rushed back to the colony. Then a stream of ants rushed out to join the hunting ground.

 

A major and a super major worker can be seen in these photos. The super major worker has been guided by minor workers. The colour difference is due to natural day light and flash light. 

 

[Leo]

impressive

love your ants and journals man!

[antmaniac]

Thank you.

[AnthonyP163]

How are they doing?

[antmaniac]

They are doing fine. So far they have killed an full grown cockroach and a huntsman spider. The alates have also eclose and got darken quite a bit.

[CrazyLegs]

Hey antmaniac, Nice work

[antmaniac]

Thanks, your formicarium is much better than mine though.

[CrazyLegs]

It's all good.

My formicarium is still in testing mode, for all I know it may have problems.

Yours is a proven model.

Edited by CrazyLegs, January 20 2017 - 12:42 PM.

[Leo]

its good enough you should see mine, they kill whatever goes inside them! 

[antmaniac]

17/12/2016

Battle with cockroach, one giant meal.

 

 

28/12/2016

Huntsman spider, another giant meal.

 

5/1/2017

The colony has created a satellite nest in the garbage dump. It got destroyed late on by the flies though.

 

5/2/2017

Lots of major workers and alates. This formicarium definitely has aged quite a bit while outside.

 

 

 

[Leo]

           

[Guzzer]

Fantastic photos and updates

[antmaniac]

Thank you all for the comments.

 

21/3/2017

Mass nuptial flight took place in the morning. I removed the lid for them to fly away.

 

 

22/3/2017

A quick overview of the colony. Due to the high humidity, they relocated the brood in the top chamber.

 

23/3/2017

Video of the queen alate taking off.